FORT PIERCE, Fla. - Four champions proved victorious at the FJT Fairwinds Open (9-12). Fairwinds Golf Course proved to be a great test for some of the top junior golfers in the state of Florida.
Boys (11-12)
Despite a strong breeze throughout the day, the soft conditions from the previous night's rain allowed for some great round 1 scores at the FJT Fairwinds Open (9-12) in Fort Pierce, FL. Looking for his second FJT victory of the year, Axel Monssoh started off round 1 on fire. The Miami native birdied five of his first six holes to card a 5-under 31 on his opening nine. Not far behind Monssoh was Bento Assis, who went out with a 4-under 32 on his opening nine holes. Monssoh kept his foot on the gas with two more birdies, putting him at 7-under through 13 holes. However, a double bogey on 14 and another on 16 led to a 3-under 69 for the day. Assis carded a 1-over 37 on his back nine, leading to a two-way tie at the top after round one. With a 2-under 70, Sebastian Eterovic sat one shot off the lead looking to make a charge on Sunday.
The final round turned into a back and forth battle between Monssoh and Assis. Assis birdied the opening hole to take a one shot lead. A two shot swing on the par 4 second allowed Monssoh to recapture the lead. It would be a battle for the remaining 16 holes. Both players would go on a birdie barrage, but it would ultimately be Monssoh edging out a two shot victory at 9-under par for the tournament. Jeremy Castellanos would secure a solo third place at 4-under for the tournament.
Girls (11-12)
The Girls (11-12) Division would see multiple players with a chance to come out on top. Two players would shoot under par for round one. Ella Hrbata would fire a 3-under 69 and Iris Lee would fire a 2-under 70. Lee looked to capture her fourth FJT victory of the year, while Hrbata was looking for her first. Right behind at even par were Qiaoyi Lyu and Keira Shavitranuruk.
Day 2 would prove to be just as exciting as day 1. With a birdie on her second hole, and an eagle on her fourth, Lee would take a one shot lead over Hrbata. Both players would go on to make back to back bogeys, but Hrbata made up for it with two consecutive birdies to close out the nine. Hrbata took a one stroke lead into the final nine holes. Lee would make two birdies coming in and Hrbata would bogey the final two holes. Lee’s day 2 69 was enough for a 3-shot victory and her fourth FJT win of the year.
Boys (9-10)
Preston Yu fired an impressive opening round 72 for the Boys (9-10) division. The Thonotosassa native was able to battle consistent strong afternoon winds to take a one shot lead. Atom Zhang looked to get hot early with birdies on his opening two holes. However, and up and down day led to a 1-over 73, putting him just one behind Yu heading into Sunday. Benny Minter also fired a 1-over 73 to sit just one back.
Much like the Boys (11-12) Division, round two would turn out to be a battle for the younger boys. Yu would start 3-over through three holes and would need to fight hard to catch Zhang, who would fire a 2-under 34 on his opening nine. Yu would indeed fight hard and was able to take advantage of a Zhang bogey on the 36th hole. But 36 holes would not be enough as both Zhang and Yu would finish regulation at even par. After two pars on the first playoff hole, they went to the par-3 11th hole. Yu entered the driver’s seat by sticking his tee shot to 15 feet and Zhang’s coming up 10 yards short of the green. But Zhang made an incredible shot from a buried lie, sinking a 25-yard chip for birdie. Yu would miss his birdie effort, earning Zhang his first FJT victory.
Girls (9-10)
The strong winds of Saturday proved to be a tough test for the Girls (9-10) Division. However, Madelyn Dickerson would take a commanding 4-shot lead after firing a 1-under 71. Alyna Yensabai sat in solo second after posting a 3-over 75. Dickerson looked to increase her lead even further on Sunday.
The talent of the girls in this division would be on full display during the final round. With birdies on three of her first five holes, Yensabai began to close the gap on Dickerson. Someone else who was looking for a come from behind victory was Mia Hueberger, who got the putter rolling on day 2 to fire a 3-under 69. Two bogeys from Dickerson on the back-nine opened the door for Yensabai to fire a very impressive bogey free, 4-under 68. This secured a 3-shot victory for Yensabai at 1-under par for the tournament and her second straight FJT victory. Hueberger finished in solo third.
